Chenango County, New York

County storm and disaster record · FIPS 36017 · population 47,199 · 893 sq mi

NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 785 records for Chenango County, New York from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 443 days; the most frequent are severe thunderstorm wind events (361 records). The deadliest single record is the October 14, 1989 tornado: 2 deaths and 3 injuries. FEMA has issued 31 declarations naming the county since 1972, 27 of them for natural hazards; the latest for a natural hazard was “Remnants of Tropical Storm Debby” on September 24, 2024.

The record, 1950 to 2026

Storm records filed for the county each year (2026 to June 30, 2026). Before 1996 NOAA recorded only tornadoes (from 1950), thunderstorm wind and hail (from 1955).

  • recorded, no damage figure
  • under $100,000
  • $100,000 or more
  • $1 million or more
  • $10 million or more, or a death
  • $100 million or more, or 10 deaths
  • a year's colour: its recorded damage or deaths
  • a year with a death
  • 1955: wind and hail recorded from 1955
  • 1996: all 48 event types from 1996
Storm records
785on 443 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
Deaths recorded
510 injuries
Damage, 2025 dollars
$207Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
Tornadoes
19strongest EF2
FEMA declarations
31latest 2024

Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records through June 30, 2026 (file revision 20260918); damage converted to 2025 dollars with the BLS CPI-U. Search the record at NCEI. BLS consumer price index.

What hazards hit Chenango County most?

The most frequent records are severe thunderstorm wind events: 361 since 1958. 59% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1958 fell in June and July. The rank column places the county among New York's counties by days with a record per 1,000 square miles of land over each hazard's complete period.

Chenango County: records by hazard, 1950 to June 30, 2026
HazardRecordsDaysFirst, lastKilledInjuredDamageRank in state
Severe thunderstorm wind 361 202 1958-2026 1 4 $3.1M 30 of 58
Floods 135 69 1996-2025 1 0 $193M 25 of 58
Winter storms 110 110 1996-2026 1 0 $4.3M 49 of 58
Hail 109 49 1989-2026 0 0 $42K 40 of 58
Tornadoes 19 14 1989-2024 2 5 $5.0M 18 of 58
Extreme cold 18 17 1996-2022 0 0 $39K 46 of 58
High wind and dust storms 14 14 1996-2019 0 0 $984K 56 of 58
Lightning 8 6 1996-2025 0 1 $432K 32 of 58
Heat 4 4 2001-2012 0 0 – 34 of 58
Drought 3 3 1998-2001 0 0 – 42 of 58
Heavy rain 2 2 2000-2000 0 0 $9K 42 of 58
Fog, smoke and funnel clouds 2 2 2010-2013 0 0 – 23 of 58

Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (county and forecast-zone records attributed to the county; a zone record shows its own totals on each county it covers). Days: dates with at least one record of the hazard in the county. Ranks: days with a record per 1,000 square miles of land (Census Bureau 2024 Gazetteer), since 1950 for tornadoes, 1955 for hail and thunderstorm wind, 1996 for the rest.

How many tornadoes has Chenango County had?

NOAA records 19 tornadoes in Chenango County from 1989 to 2024, the strongest rated EF2, with 2 deaths and 5 injuries recorded in the county. That is 18th of 58 New York counties by days with tornadoes per 1,000 square miles since 1950. A tornado that crossed a county line is counted in each county it touched, with the length of its path inside the county.

Counted as whole tornadoes rather than county records, the Storm Prediction Center's database holds 17 tornadoes whose track touched Chenango County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 19: they file a crossing tornado once per county segment, and the two databases differ on some tracks); along their whole tracks they killed 2 people.

The deadliest and strongest tornadoes that touched Chenango County, whole tracks
DateTornadoRatingPathKilled
1989-10-14 16:15, as SPC files itUnnamedF22 mi2

Map of the strongest tornado tracks in New York.

Every tornado record filed for Chenango County (19)
Every tornado recorded in Chenango County, newest first
DatePlaceCharacterKilledInjuredDamage
2024-07-15 Lincklaen, Chenango County EF1 8.69 mi x 250 yd 0 0 $113K
2014-09-02 Bennettsville, Chenango County EF1 0.1 mi x 50 yd 0 0 $12K
2013-04-19 Bennettsville, Chenango County EF0 1.99 mi x 200 yd 0 0 $89K
2011-07-29 Guilford, Chenango County EF0 0.27 mi x 175 yd 0 0 $7K
2011-04-28 Pharsalia, Chenango County EF2 7.37 mi x 400 yd 0 0 $820K
2011-04-28 Smithville Center, Chenango County EF1 3.39 mi x 150 yd 0 0 $98K
2011-04-28 Columbus, Chenango County EF1 3.47 mi x 100 yd 0 0 $66K
2003-08-29 Beaver Meadow, Chenango County F1 1 mi x 50 yd 0 0 $160K
2002-06-05 Bainbridge, Chenango County F0 1.1 mi x 300 yd 0 0 $82K
1998-06-26 New Berlin, Chenango County F0 0.1 mi x 20 yd 0 0 $2K
1998-06-02 Pitcher, Chenango County F1 0.3 mi x 100 yd 0 0 $453K
1998-05-31 North Norwich, Chenango County F0 0.5 mi x 75 yd 0 0 $244K
1998-05-31 Plymouth, Chenango County F2 1 mi x 1,500 yd 0 0 $905K
1996-11-08 Oxford, Chenango County F0 1.2 mi x 200 yd 0 0 $141K
1996-11-08 Oxford, Chenango County F0 0.7 mi x 200 yd 0 0 $141K
1993-05-15 Otselic, Chenango County F1 2.5 mi x 125 yd 0 2 $1.0M
1992-05-02 Chenango County F1 1 mi x 100 yd 0 0 $250K step
1992-05-02 Chenango County F0 0.2 mi x 50 yd 0 0 $25K step
1989-10-14 Chenango County F2 2 mi x 300 yd 2 3 $25K step

A damage figure marked "step" is a record from before 1993: NOAA then filed damage by category, and the figure is the category as entered, in the dollars of that year, not an estimate of the loss.

Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, tornado records by county (path length in the county, maximum width); ratings as published: F scale before February 1, 2007, EF scale after. Whole-track figures: NOAA Storm Prediction Center tornado database (1950-2025). SPC severe weather database.

When was the last damaging storm in Chenango County?

The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the June 18, 2026 thunderstorm wind ($2,000 in damage in 2025 dollars).

The 12 most recent records kept for Chenango County
DateRecordCharacterKilledInjuredDamage
2026-06-18 Thunderstorm WindEarlville, Chenango County 50 kt wind 0 0 $2K
2026-06-18 Thunderstorm WindSmyrna, Chenango County 50 kt wind 0 0 $1K
2026-06-18 Thunderstorm WindGreene, Chenango County 50 kt wind 0 0 $500
2026-06-18 Thunderstorm WindEast Guilford, Chenango County 50 kt wind 0 0 $2K
2026-06-18 Thunderstorm WindGreene Airport, Chenango County 50 kt wind 0 0 $8K
2026-06-18 Thunderstorm WindLincklaen, Chenango County 50 kt wind 0 0 $2K
2026-03-31 HailBainbridge, Chenango County 1.50 in hail 0 0 –
2026-03-31 HailAfton, Chenango County 1.25 in hail 0 0 –
2026-03-31 HailGreene, Chenango County 1.75 in hail 0 0 –
2026-01-25 Winter StormChenango County · forecast zone Chenango 0 0 –
2025-12-26 Winter StormChenango County · forecast zone Chenango 0 0 –
2025-12-04 Winter WeatherChenango County · forecast zone Chenango 1 0 –

Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database; every record of 2025-2026 is listed, earlier ones when they caused deaths, injuries or $250,000 of damage (2025 dollars), and every tornado.

The deadliest and costliest records

Records with deaths or injuries in Chenango County, most deaths first
DateRecordCharacterKilledInjuredDamage
1989-10-14 TornadoChenango County F2 2 mi x 300 yd 2 3 $25K step
2025-12-04 Winter WeatherChenango County · forecast zone Chenango A female driver passed away from a head-on collision with a tractor-trailer which was traveling northbound on Route 12B and lost control during a snow squall. The truck crossed into the southbound lane colliding with the other vehicle. 1 0 –
2006-06-27 Flash FloodCountywide, Chenango County A steady stream of tropical moisture flowing north into upstate New York ahead of a frontal system across the eastern Great Lakes brought periods of heavy rain and thunderstorms to Chenango County from early Monday the 26th through Tuesday morning the 27th. From 1.5 to 4 inches of rain fell by Tuesday morning. This ... 1 0 $73M
1995-06-26 Thunderstorm WindSmithville Flats, Chenango County 1 0 $968
1995-07-15 Thunderstorm WindSherburne, Chenango County 0 2 $116K
1993-05-15 TornadoOtselic, Chenango County F1 2.5 mi x 125 yd 0 2 $1.0M
2014-09-02 Thunderstorm WindNorth Afton, Chenango County A microburst with maximum wind speeds of 90 mph, a path length of 6 miles and a path width of 0.5 miles uprooted numerous trees near the Afton area between 830 and 845 pm EDT. The microburst overturned two large farm hay wagons and peeled part of a roof off of a barn. Many trees were damaged at the Afton Golf Course. ... 78 kt wind 0 1 $37K
1996-05-18 LightningNorwich, Chenango County A man was struck by lightning while trying to seek shelter from thunderstorms. 0 1 –

A damage figure marked "step" is a record from before 1993: NOAA then filed damage by category, and the figure is the category as entered, in the dollars of that year, not an estimate of the loss.

The costliest records in Chenango County since 1993, damage in 2025 dollars
DateRecordCharacterKilledInjuredDamage
2006-06-27 FloodBainbridge, Chenango County 0 0 $73M
2006-06-28 FloodRockdale, Chenango County 0 0 $4.4M
2003-04-04 Ice StormChenango County · forecast zone Chenango 0 0 $3.2M
2006-06-27 FloodGreene, Chenango County 0 0 $2.9M
2004-09-18 Flash FloodSouth Portion, Chenango County 0 0 $1.6M
2005-04-01 FloodChenango County · forecast zone Chenango 0 0 $1.5M
2005-04-02 FloodChenango County · forecast zone Chenango 0 0 $1.5M
1993-05-15 TornadoOtselic, Chenango County F1 2.5 mi x 125 yd 0 2 $1.0M

Before 1993 NOAA filed damage by category, not amount, so the list above starts in 1993. The highest category filed here before then (entered as $250K, in the dollars of the day) holds: May 2, 1992 (tornado, Chenango County).

Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database: deaths and injuries direct and indirect; damage is property plus crops as estimated by the National Weather Service, converted to 2025 dollars.

Is it getting more frequent?

Records per decade for Chenango County's most frequent hazards. Counts rose everywhere after 1996, when NOAA began recording every event type, so compare decades within a hazard's complete period only (the shaded cells come before it).

Chenango County: records per decade (the 2020s to June 30, 2026)
Hazard1950s1960s1970s1980s1990s2000s2010s2020-26
Severe thunderstorm wind1353090778075
Floods––––9644616
Winter storms––––21452420
Hail0003452428
Tornadoes00019261
Extreme cold––––51102

Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).

What time of year?

59% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1958 fell in June and July. The two busiest months are in violet.

The values, month by month

Jan 47 · Feb 31 · Mar 44 · Apr 44 · May 88 · Jun 169 · Jul 155 · Aug 76 · Sep 43 · Oct 23 · Nov 32 · Dec 33 (records).

Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.

Federal disaster declarations for Chenango County

FEMA's register lists 31 declarations that include Chenango County: 20 major disasters, 11 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for severe storm (12) and flood (5).

Declarations including Chenango County, newest first
DeclaredNumberTypeTitle
2024-09-24DR-4825Tropical StormRemnants of Tropical Storm Debby
2021-08-22EM-3565HurricaneHurricane Henri
2020-03-20DR-4480BiologicalCovid-19 Pandemic
2020-03-13EM-3434BiologicalCovid-19
2019-12-19DR-4472Severe StormSevere Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding
2018-10-01DR-4397FloodSevere Storms and Flooding
2017-07-12DR-4322SnowstormSevere Winter Storm and Snowstorm
2013-07-12DR-4129FloodSevere Storms and Flooding
2012-10-28EM-3351HurricaneHurricane Sandy
2011-09-13DR-4031Severe StormRemnants of Tropical Storm Lee
2011-09-08EM-3341Severe StormRemnants of Tropical Storm Lee
2011-06-10DR-1993FloodSevere Storms, Flooding, Tornadoes, and Straight-Line Winds
2009-09-01DR-1857Severe StormSevere Storms and Flooding
2008-12-18EM-3299Severe StormSevere Winter Storm
2006-12-12DR-1670Severe StormSevere Storms and Flooding
2006-07-01DR-1650Severe StormSevere Storms and Flooding
2005-09-30EM-3262HurricaneHurricane Katrina Evacuation
2005-04-19DR-1589Severe StormSevere Storms and Flooding
2004-10-01DR-1565Severe StormTropical Depression Ivan
2004-08-03DR-1534Severe StormSevere Storms and Flooding
2003-08-23EM-3186OtherPower Outage
2003-05-12DR-1467Severe Ice StormIce Storm
2003-03-27EM-3184SnowstormSnow
2003-02-25EM-3173SnowstormSnowstorms
2001-09-11DR-1391FireFires and Explosions
2000-10-11EM-3155OtherWest Nile Virus
2000-07-21DR-1335Severe StormSevere Storms and Flooding
1998-06-16DR-1222Severe StormSevere Storms and Tornadoes
1996-01-24DR-1095FloodSevere Storms and Flooding
1993-03-17EM-3107SnowstormSevere Blizzard
1972-06-23DR-338FloodTropical Storm Agnes

Source: FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (v2), declarations through October 2, 2026; one declaration is counted once however many areas it names. OpenFEMA dataset page.

How many floods has Chenango County had?

NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 135 flood or flash flood records for Chenango County from 1996 to 2025, on 69 days, with 1 death. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Chenango County ranks 435th of 2,942 U.S. counties.

Named storms on Chenango County's flood and tropical record
StormBeganRecordsDeaths in the county
Tropical Storm Lee2011-09-0740
Tropical Depression Ivan2004-09-1820

The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $11.4 million on 632 claims filed in Chenango County; the most in one year was 228 in 2011. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.

The values, year by year

1978: 6 · 1979: 29 · 1980: 3 · 1981: 11 · 1982: 1 · 1983: 3 · 1986: 3 · 1993: 7 · 1994: 1 · 1996: 7 · 1998: 3 · 1999: 1 · 2000: 2 · 2001: 4 · 2004: 2 · 2005: 62 · 2006: 215 · 2007: 2 · 2008: 1 · 2011: 228 · 2012: 3 · 2013: 15 · 2014: 3 · 2015: 3 · 2017: 1 · 2018: 2 · 2019: 7 · 2020: 1 · 2023: 2 · 2024: 1 · 2025: 3; the other years: 0.

Source: FEMA OpenFEMA NFIP Redacted Claims, as of September 8, 2026; claims by year of loss, payments in the dollars of the year paid. OpenFEMA dataset page.

FEMA's modeled risk for Chenango County

FEMA's National Risk Index rates Chenango County Relatively Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $27.0 million. These are FEMA's model estimates of future loss from 18 hazards, not a count of what happened; they can differ from the record above.

National Risk Index ratings for Chenango County (December 2025 release), by FEMA's rating, then score
HazardRisk ratingExpected annual lossModeled frequency
Riverine FloodingRelatively Moderate$24M2.4 a year (modeled)
Winter WeatherRelatively Moderate$99K21 a year (modeled)
LandslideRelatively Low$5Konce in about 2 years (modeled)
HurricaneRelatively Low$366Konce in about 56 years (modeled)
Ice StormRelatively Low$117Konce in about 2 years (modeled)
Cold WaveRelatively Low$1.2M4.3 a year (modeled)
LightningRelatively Low$192K29 a year (modeled)
TornadoRelatively Low$955Konce in about 4 years (modeled)

Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county table, December 2025 release. FEMA's National Risk Index map.

Counties that share a border with Chenango County

  1. Broome County 1,258
  2. Otsego County 849
  3. Chenango County 785
  4. Delaware County 759
  5. Madison County 622
  6. Cortland County 606

Source: U.S. Census Bureau county adjacency file; NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records since 1950. The Census Bureau's adjacency file.

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